Sb ₂ (S,Se) ₃ -Mediated One-Step Hydrothermal Synthesis of Sb ₂ S ₃ Nanorod Arrays for Photovoltaic Applications

Benefiting from the unique ribbon-like structure, vertically aligned Sb 2 S 3 nanorod arrays (NRAs) are anticipated to exhibit efficient charge transport along the covalently bonded (hk1)-oriented (Sb 4 S 6 ) n ribbons. Consequently, achieving the controlled growth of Sb 2 S 3 thin films featuring such vertically aligned NRAs is highly desirable but remains a significant practical challenge. In this study, we developed a one-step hydrothermal method to grow vertically aligned Sb 2 S 3 NRAs, where thiourea (TU) and sodium selenosulfate (Na 2 SeSO 3 ) were employed to engineer the crystallographic orientation, while cadmium chloride (CdCl 2 ) was used to mediate the nanorod morphology. The effects of key process parameters─including the deposition temperature, deposition time, and CdCl 2 concentration─on the morphology, crystal structure, and optoelectronic properties of the NRAs were systematically investigated. This approach enabled the controllable preparation of high (hk1)-oriented Sb 2 S 3 NRAs with a highly ordered alignment and uniform size distribution. The optimized NRAs were successfully integrated into a fully inorganic Sb 2 S 3 solar cell. This work provides a robust experimental foundation for subsequent research on Sb 2 S 3 NRA fabrication and its implementation in functional devices.